Switch mechanism for a counter



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m a I a n m I INVENTORS ATTORNEY L. w. NORELL ET AL SWITCH MECHANISM FORA COUNTER Filed May 20, 1952 Feb. 8, 1955 As/er h. Norefl y Harry Ajow/eUnited States Patent SWITCH MECHANISM FOR A COUNTER Lester W. Norell andHarry A. Sowle, San Francisco, Calif.

Application May 20, 1952, Serial No. 288,788

7 Claims. (Cl. 20061.42)

The present invention relates to a switch mechanism for a counterintended particularly for counting the sheets in a stack of paper.

More particularly it is proposed to provide a switch mechanism of thecharacter described which includes a needlepoint adapted for guidingover the edges of a stack of paper sheets, with the edges arranged instepped relation.

it is further proposed to provide a switch mechanism of the characterdescribed that is very sensitive and quick in its reaction so as to openand close in synchronism with the vibrations imparted to the point ofthe needle as the latter is guided over the stepped edges.

As the needle point is thus guided to descend along the steps formed bythe edges of the sheets of paper, it is placed under tension as long asit rests on an edge of a sheet of paper and is released as it moves fromone step to the next one. If this movement is carried on with a desireddegree of speed, the needle point is set into vibratory motion, onevibration for each step, and it is the object of the present inventionto provide for a switch mechanism which opens and closes a switch inresponse to the vibratory movement of the needle point so that theswitch opening and closing movements correspond exactly to the vibratorymovement of the needle point vand to the number of steps along which theneedle point descends.

For this purpose it is intended to provide a switch mechanism which maybe easily operated, is convenient in handling and is very sensitive andaccurate in its response to the movements of the needle point.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will appear as thespecification proceeds, and the novel features of our invention will befully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred form of our invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure 1 shows a horizontal section through the switchmechanism, taken immediately underneath the cover of the latter,

Figure 2, a vertical section through the switch mechamsm,

Figure 3, a front view of our device,

Figure 4, a section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2,

gigure 5, a section taken along line 5 of Figure 2, an

Figure 6, an enlarged detail view illustrating the principal workingcharacteristics of the invention.

While we have shown only the preferred form of our invention, we wish tohave it understood that various changes and modifications may be madewithin the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, our switch mechanism comprises inits principal features a housing 1, a needle 2 pivoted therein as at 3and having a switch 4 carried thereby, a spring 5 mounted in thehousing, and a hammer 6 operable by the spring 5 for opening the switch4 in response to vibratory movement of the needle point indicated at 7.

The housing 1 may be made in any suitable shape and is here shown in theform of a tube rectangular in cross-section and rather elongated inform. It should be noted that Figures 1 and 2 show our device on a scaleof two to one and that in the views of Figures 3 to 5 inclusive theproportions have again been doubled.

The needle 2 is preferably made of metallic material 2,701,826 PatentedFeb. 8, 1955 "ice and carries, at its forward end, a triangular block :8mounted in the front end of the tube, the block 8 carrying the pivots 3which are journaled in the side walls of the tube. The point 7 of theneedle pro ects only slightly beyond the front end of the tube, asclearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The main body portion of the needle 2 and its rear portion projectthrough the major length of the tube or housing, and the rear end of theneedle terminates in a vertical flange 9 forming part of the switch 4.An intermediate section of the needle carries a block 10, betweeninsulating members 11, and a spring 12 has one end secured upon theblock as at 13 while its rear end terminates in a contact 14 cooperatingwith the flange 9 in forming the switch 4. intermediate the block 10 andthe flange 9, the needle carries a cylindrical element 15 which projectsabove and below the upperand lower surfaces of the needle respectively.

The block 10 on the needle has the hammer 6 pivoted thereto as at 16,the hammer comprising a handle or rod 17 and a head or weight 18, thelatter being preferably made in sections so as to allow the weight to bedecreased or increased for better response to the vibratory movement.The far end of the hammer is disposed r underneath the free end of theleaf spring 12 so that an upward movement of the weight strikes the freeend of the spring 12 and lifts the contact 14 oh" the flange 9 foropening the switch. The handle or rod 17 of the hammer normally rests onthe cylindrical body 15.

The spring 5 runs parallel to the bottom 19 of the tube or housing andis anchored to the tube at the rear .end thereof as at 20, in slightlyspaced relation to the bottom. The forward end of this leaf springextends underneath the rear end of the needle and supports thecylindrical member 15, and through the latter, the rear end of theneedle.

A stop 21 limits the upward swing of the main body portion of the needle2.

Electrical connections 22 and 23 may be anchored on opposite sides ofthe switch as at 13 and 20.

In operation the device may be handled very much like a comparativelyshort pencil to which it substantially corresponds in dimensions. Thepoint 7 is made to descend a stack of sheets of paper having its edgesarranged in stepped relation. This will set up a vibratory move ment inthe point of the needle corresponding exactly to the number of stepsover which it passes. As the point of the needle presses on one of thesteps the rear section is urged downward, and as the point drops fromone step to the next one the pressure is released and the rear portionof the needle is free to move upward.

During the pressure period the cylindrical body 15 bears on the frontend of the leaf spring 5 and places the latter under tension. As thetension is released due to the movement of the needle point from onestep to the next one, the front end of the spring 5 rebounds and,through the cylindrical body 15, throws the hammer 6 upward, whichlatter again strikes the free end of the spring 12 and separates thecontact portion from the flange 9 so as to open the switch 4. As theneedle point is again placed under pressure by coming to rest on thenext step, the cylindrical body 15 again bears on the front end of theleaf spring 5 and allows the hammer 6 to return to its originalposition, thereby allowing the switch 4 to close.

The counter to be used in connection with this switch mechanism may beof any suitable standard form and is not illustrated in the drawing. Inits preferred form it would include a rotary member for operating ameter over a dial and the rotary member would be operated by a pawl andratchet arrangement, the pawl being operated in one direction by anelectro-magnet having the switch 4 incorporated in the circuit thereof,and in the other direction by a suitable spring operating in oppositionto the electro-magnet.

We claim:

1. In a counter for a stack of sheets having edges arranged in steppedrelation, an elongated housing, a needle pivoted in the front end of thehousing and having a point extending forwardly of the housing and a longend extending rearwardly into the housing and having an upward flange atthe rear end thereof adapted to form a switch contact, a block carriedby the needle at an intermediate section thereof and having a leafspring mounted thereon, the leaf spring extending rearwardly and havinga rear end normally bearing on the flange to form a switch therewith, asecond leaf spring mounted in the rear end of the housing in slightlyspaced relation to the floor thereof and having a front end extendingunder a rear section of the needle, a spacing means on the needlebearing on the front end of the second leaf spring for normally holdingthe needle and the second leaf spring in slightly spaced relation, andalso extending above the needle, and a rod pivoted in the block andextending rearwardly therefrom and having a head disposed underneath thefirst leaf spring and between the spacing means and the flange, wherebywhen the point of the needle is pressed upon the edge of a sheet ofpaper, the spacing means is made to depress the second leaf spring forplacing the latter under tension, and when the needle point is made toslide off the edge, the second leaf spring causes the spacing means toflex against the rod for causing the head to flex against the first leafspring for opening the switch.

2. In a counter for a stack of sheets having edges arranged in steppedrelation, an elongated housing, a

needle pivoted in the front end of the housing and having a pointextending forwardly of the housing and a rear end extending into thehousing and having an upward flange at the rear end thereof adapted toform a switch contact, a block carried by the needle at an intermediatesection thereof and having a leaf spring mounted thereon, with the endof the leaf spring normally bearing on the flange to form a switchtherewith, a second spring in the housing adapted for being placed undertension by the needle when the point of the latter is pressed upon asheet edge, and a hammer pivoted in the block and operable by the secondspring for being thrust against the first spring for opening the switchwhen the second spring is released due to the sliding off of the needlepoint from the sheet edge.

3. In a counter for a stack of sheets having edges arranged in steppedrelation, an elongated housing, a needle pivoted in the front end of thehousing and having a point extending forwardly of the housing and rearend extending into the housing, a switch carried by the rear end of theneedle, a spring mounted in the housing and operable for being placedunder tension by the needle when the point of the latter is pressed upona sheet edge, and means arranged immediately adjacent the switch andoperable by the rebound of the spring for opening the switch when thetension of the spring is released to the sliding off of the needle pointfrom the sheet edge.

4. In a counter for a stack of sheets having edges arranged in steppedrelation, an elongated housing, a needle pivoted in the front end of thehousing and having a point extending forwardly of the housing and a rearend extending into the housing, a switch carried by the rear end of theneedle, a spring mounted in the housing and operable for being placedunder tension by the needle when the point of the latter is pressed upona sheet edge, and means arranged immediately adjacent the switch andoperable by the rebound of the spring for opening the switch when thetension of the spring is released to the sliding off of the needle pointfrom the sheet edge, the latter means including a freely pivoted memberacted on by the spring to accelerate the switch opening movement.

5. In a counter for a stack of sheets having edges arranged in steppedrelation, an elongated housing, a needle pivoted in the front of thehousing and having a point extending forward of the housing and a rearend extending into the housing and having a contact member at the rearend, a leaf spring mounted on the needle having a rear end normallybearing on the contact member, a second spring in the housing adaptedfor being placed under tension by the needle when the point of thelatter is pressed upon a sheet, and a hammer pivoted with respect to theneedle and operable by the second spring for being thrust against thefirst spring to separate the same from the contact member when thesecond spring is released due to the sliding off of the needle pointfrom the sheet edge.

6. In a counter for a stack of sheets having edges arranged in steppedrelation, an elongated housing, a needle pivoted in the front of thehousing and having a point extending forward of the housing and a rearend extending into the housing and having a contact member at the rearend, a leaf spring mounted on the needle having a rear end normallybearing on the contact member, a second spring in the housing adaptedfor being placed under tension by the needle when the point of thelatter is pressed upon a sheet, and means movable with respect to theneedle and operable by the second spring for being thrust against thefirst spring to separate the same from the contact member when thesecond spring is released due to the sliding off of the needle pointfrom the sheet edge.

7. In a counter for a stack of sheets having edges arranged in steppedrelation, an elongated housing, a needle pivoted in the front of thehousing and having a point extending forward of the housing and a rearend extending into the housing and having a contact member at the rearend, a leaf spring mounted on the needle having a rear end normallybearing on the contact member, a second spring in the housing adaptedfor being placed under tension by the needle when the point of thelatter is pressed upon a sheet, and means movable with respect to theneedle and operable by the second spring for being thrust against thefirst spring to separate the same from the contact member when thesecond spring is released due to the sliding off of the needle pointfrom the sheet edge, the said means being active 3n the first springimmediately adjacent the contact mem- References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,020,402 Edwards et al Nov. 12, 19352,090,178 Brickner Aug. 17, 1937

